Monday, November 13, 2006

Other Items

Kyle Snyder remains AWOL, continues to speak out against the warKyle Snyder, Iraq veteran and war resister, remains AWOL after returning last week from Canada and attempting to be discharged from the Army.At the risk of arrest, he is speaking out bravely on behalf of war resisters and active duty GI's. Kyle has been speaking to the media, in public forums, to university students, to military age youth and even to those in the military."When I joined the Army I took an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution, and that is what I am doing. By refusing to fight in an illegal war, I am obeying international laws," Snyder explains.His former unit, the 94th Engineers, now based at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, is slated to return to Iraq in January for the 3rd time. The Army wants Kyle to return to that unit, and will not say what they will do when he does. Military authorities at Ft. Leonard Wood have not yet returned calls from Snyder's attorney, Jim Fennerty, of Chicago.Call Ft. Leonard Wood Fort Leonard Wood Office of the Commanding General Major General William McCoy, Jr., 573-596-0131 and the Public Affairs Office, 573-563-4013 email: alleym@wood.army.mil Demand that the Army "Discharge Kyle Snyder with No Punishment"It is clear that the vast majority of Americans want the war to end and the troops to come home. This is the moment to give our full support to Kyle Snyder and all war resisters.Send your words of encouragement and support to Kyle Snyder at: supportkyle@couragetoresist.orgDonations are still urgently needed for Kyle's legal and political defense!For updated action alerts, information, and to donate visit:www.CouragetoResist.org/kylesnyder

Asimple petition initiated by rank-and-file US service members has caught on and begun to attract a mass sentiment of GI opposition to the continued US occupation of Iraq. Starting around October 24, an announcement that 65 GIs had signed the petition -- promoted by the group Appeal for Redress -- was picked up by the corporate media. By October 30, the number of signers, "including active-duty and inactive-duty troops", had grown to "over 1,000", according to an Appeal for Redress volunteer who preferred anonymity. The organisation was working on a way to validate all the signatures. David Cortright, a veteran organiser and author of the book Soldiers in Revolt, told the October 28 Biloxi Sun Herald when the count had gone over 700 that they were being validated by hand, and that less than 10% "looked fishy". Cortright’s book had inspired one of the GIs who started the petition. The appeal itself is moderate, even patriotic in tone, but the top Pentagon officers who depend on unthinking obedience from their privates and sailors are sure to see it as a challenge to their chain of command. It reads: "As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq. Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for US troops to come home."The statement stops short of exposing US aggressive aims or the war crimes committed in Iraq, unlike the statements made by active-duty military resisters like Stephen Funk, Abdullah Webster, Camilo Mejia, Pablo Paredes, Jeremy Hinzman and Kevin Benderman. But for the many GIs who are not ready to take such a heroic position, the statement offers an opportunity to take the first active step in opposing the occupation and protecting their own lives. In addition, it is legal for active-duty troops to take such a stand.

About Me

We do not open attachments. Stop e-mailing them. Threats and abusive e-mail are not covered by any privacy rule. This isn't to the reporters at a certain paper (keep 'em coming, they are funny). This is for the likes of failed comics who think they can threaten via e-mails and then whine, "E-mails are supposed to be private." E-mail threats will be turned over to the FBI and they will be noted here with the names and anything I feel like quoting.
This also applies to anyone writing to complain about a friend of mine. That's not why the public account exists.